Protection Policy and Advocacy Adviser in London

NRC is seeking a dynamic and experienced Protection Policy and Advocacy Adviser to lead and shape high-impact advocacy work. In this role, you will manage two core areas: policy and advocacy related to protection and solutions to displacement; and crisis-specific and duty-station advocacy engagement.

You will join NRC’s Policy and Advocacy Section, which sets global advocacy direction, provides thought leadership, and coordinates policy and advocacy efforts across the organisation. The team develops organisational policies, tools, and guidance; represents NRC in key global forums; builds strategic partnerships; and supports fundraising for global, regional, and country-level advocacy work.

The position will be hosted in NRC’s London office, other representation offices (Brussels or Germany), Oslo HQ, or another approved Employer of Record (EoR) country.

What you will do

• Develop and implement an annual workplan on protection policy, identifying where NRC can add value and outlining a theory of change with accompanying plan of action.
• Support and advise on country-specific advocacy related to protection, displacement and solutions, including reviewing materials prepared by country offices, in coordination and collaboration with relevant program or area leads.
• Serve as technical focal point on issues relating to the protection of civilians and protection-and displacement-related dimensions of international law (notably IHL and International Refugee Law).
• Draft policy, advocacy, and communication products related to protection and solutions (e.g. position papers, analysis and research, op-eds, key messages, and talking points).
• Develop, contribute to, and disseminate tools, guidelines, and training material – including promoting uptake of existing materials on protection analysis.
• Support on issues relating to leadership and action on protection within the humanitarian system (e.g. Centrality of Protection), if/as requested.
• Represent NRC in external engagements and forums as required. Build and maintain relationships with relevant external actors on protection, including with NGO peers, UN actors, ICRC and States.
• Manage donor reporting on protection and contribute to fundraising (including donor proposals) as requested; ensure ongoing tracking against reporting indicators.
• Additional tasks as requested by the Head of Policy and Advocacy on Interagency Coordination, Protection, and Solutions.

On broader policy and advocacy engagement

• Develop influencing strategies targeting relevant authorities and entities within their duty station country.
• Deliver the full range of advocacy tactics to achieve changes to laws, policies and practices within their duty station, in line with NRC country and thematic advocacy strategies.
• Build a wide influencing network with relevant stakeholders, including as needed within the private sector, think tanks, diaspora groups, defense establishment, members of parliament.
• Produce regularly updated engagement plans, power analysis, calendars of key events and influencing opportunities relevant to NRC advocacy priorities.
• Translate country analysis into policy and advocacy messages relevant to key targets.
• Engage with media outlets within duty station in coordination with global and country media colleagues.
• Represent NRC in public events on relevant policy or country-specific advocacy files.

What you will bring

• Degree in law strongly preferred; other relevant areas of study also potentially accepted provided sufficient legal expertise can be demonstrated.
• Minimum 6 years of documented relevant experience within the humanitarian sector, including experience at country level.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in protection and IHL.
• Demonstrated experience with policy and advocacy.
• Strong drafting and analytical skills.
• Ability to develop and implement project management plans.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal; additional languages an advantage.
• Experience with protection policy issues, including protection of civilians, is essential.
• Familiarity with the humanitarian principles and with considerations guiding the engagement of an operational humanitarian actor in the protection space.
• Awareness of risk-based approaches to protection.
• Familiarity with key government and parliamentary institutions within duty station and ideally direct experience of lobbying on humanitarian issues.
• Demonstrated experience of producing high quality briefing notes and other policy products.
• Familiarity with the humanitarian architecture, systems and processes.
• Familiarity with durable solutions approaches, both development-oriented humanitarian solutions and solutions from the start, and advocacy and policy engagement accordingly, is preferred.

What we offer

• Duty station: NRC’s Rep Offices in London, Berlin, Brussels, Head office in Oslo or any of the listed EoR countries.
• Contract: 2 year contract renewable subject to funding.
• Salary/benefits: Grade 8 on NRC’s Resident salary scale, with accompanying terms and conditions.

NRC is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability. We think outside the box, encourage ideas, and give responsibility to all employees at all levels. You will have many opportunities to be heard and take the initiative.

Find out more about the benefits of working for NRC.

Important information about the application process

• For Internal candidates: To apply as an internal candidate, log in with your official email or click on Opportunity Market Place.
• When creating your profile, include your full name as given on your passport. Complete all the system-required fields for experience, employment history and education.
• Submit your application and CV in English, taking care to attach your latest CV.
• Applications that do not meet the minimum standards in terms of experience or qualifications will generally not be considered. Unsolicited applications not related to this specific job advertisement will not be considered.
• We receive many applications for each vacant position and so only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
• If you have any questions about this role, please email with the job title as the subject line.

Why NRC?

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organisation helping people forced to flee. Our 15,000 staff work in crises across 40 countries, providing life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year.

We are looking for people who are passionate about helping refugees and people forced to flee. Are you one of those people? If you are, NRC offers you the opportunity to:

• do demanding and professional work, often in challenging contexts.
• join a work culture that empowers every employee to share ideas and take responsibility.
• be part of a welcoming and supportive community committed to human dignity.